Joe Santino

Joe Santino was a man of many hats during his four decades in Avenal: council member, mayor, active community participant and volunteer. He even played Santa Claus.

But it was newspaper work that was the longtime passion for Santino, who died unexpectedly Sunday in Coalinga at the age of 69.

"I think he found his vocation in life when he became involved with [newspapers]; he just loved doing that," wife Arlene Santino said Tuesday.

The Santinos began their run in newspapers at the Coalinga Record in 1982, with Arlene serving as a writer and Joe freelance writing and reporting on sports while also shooting photos. Joe Santino later served as sports editor and photographer for the Avenal Progress from 1996 until the publication ceased operation in 2007, and was still shooting photos for the Buccaneers football team this fall.

After decades of covering Avenal sports teams, Santino made many friends of the young athletes and their parents at the high school. His longtime service to local schools led Santino to be twice presented (in 1983 and 2001) with the Milton O. Wilen Award for community service from the Reef-Sunset Unified School District.

During his time working for the Record, Santino ran for a seat on the Avenal City Council in 1988 and won with more votes than any candidate up to that time. He served from 1988 to 1992, first as mayor pro-tem and then mayor from 1990 to 1992.

"He was a real great councilman and mayor," said City Manager Melissa Whitten, who served as city clerk at the time. "He was very involved with the community."

During Santino's council/mayor tenure, he helped institute the curb, gutter and sidewalk project. Three improvements during that time included the curb and gutter project, the opening of the new middle schools and a landscaping project for Skyline Boulevard through town.

Santino also represented Avenal in Charlotte, N.C., where the city was a candidate for All-America City.

"He's a pretty close friend, we did quite a few things together," said Avenal Mayor Harlin Casida, who has also taught and coached for years at the high school. "Both Joe and Arlene have been very involved with community projects."

A native of New Jersey, Santino excelled in baseball while in high school and graduated in 1960. He then served for eight years in the U.S. Navy, with his most memorable stint being two years in search and rescue on Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands.

Santino worked for the Tulare Police Department following his naval service before moving to Avenal in 1970. He worked for several positions with the Pacific Gas & Electric Company at the Kettleman Compressor Plant, serving as a mechanic apprentice before being forced to retire because of a back injury.

After the Progress closed in 2007, Santino remained active in volunteer work, including many hours at the Avenal Senior Nutrition Center. He was also involved with the Senior Club, serving two years as president and later treasurer.

Santino was the city's representative on the Kings County Commission on Aging for the past three years, and also volunteered with the Avenal Historical Society and Old Timers Day Committee. Earlier this year, he was recognized as the club's Volunteer of the Year during the city's Appreciation Dinner.

But perhaps Santino became most recognizable recently for his work as Santa Claus in the community the past three years. He grew a long white beard to fit naturally into his Santa persona.

"As a friend, he's going to be missed, and as a community member he's really going to be missed," Casida said.

Santino is survived by wife Arlene of Avenal; two sons, Joseph A. Santino and wife Monica of Coalinga and David W. Santino and wife Heidi of Salida; three granddaughters, Sarah of Coalinga and Lauren and Jessica of Salida; and two cousins, Sharon Silva of Pennsylvania and Virginia Pagden of Delaware.

A viewing will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Phipps-Dale Funeral Chapel, 420 W. D St., in Lemoore. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Southern Baptist Church, 297 Washington St. in Coalinga. Interment with military honors will follow at Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Coalinga.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made to the Avenal Animal Control Shelter, c/o Avenal City Hall, 919 Skyline Blvd., Avenal, CA 93204.